Improvement in thrashing-machines



SHANK & STEPHENSON.

Thrashing Machine.

Patented Nov. 12, 1861.

.8 III Witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

C. H. SHANK AND STAUFFER STEPHENSON, OF I-IUMMELSTONVN PENN- SYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN THRASHlNG-MACHlNES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,714, dated November 12, 1861.

To all whom it floaty concern:

Be it known that we, 0. .H. SHANK and STAUFFER STEPHENSON, of Hummelstown, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Thrashing -Machine; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification Figure 1 being a plan of the machine arranged as an overshot thrasher; Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof arranged as an undershot thrasher; Fig. 3, a vertical section of the same in the plane indicated by the line at m, Fig. 1, and corresponding in arrangement with the same figure; Fig. 4, a vertical section in the same plane, but representing it arranged as an undershot thrasher corresponding with Fig. 2.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The general construction of the machine maybe as usual orconvenient, having a frame A of suitable construction, sheaf-board, or table B, feeding-board D, and toothed cylinder 0 without peculiarity.

Our improvement consists in arranging concaves E and G and the driving-gear of the cylinder so that the machine may be readily changed from an undershot to an overshot thrasher, and vice versa, as occasion may require.

For an overshot thrasher we have a toothed concave E in the top of the frame, as in Fig. 3, and below the cylinder, in place of the concave with teeth, weinserta false concave H. This latter piece is provided with a part h, projecting upward, so as to support the rear end of the feed-board D in a horizontal position, as shown in the same figure. The teeth (Z d of the concave E are suitably arranged to allow the teeth I) Z) of the cylinder 0 to pass between them in the direction indicated by the arrow.

For an undershot thrasher we remove the false concave H under the cylinder and insert in its place a toothed concave G; also, remove the toothed concave E and substitute in its place a false concave I, as represented in Fig. 4.. The feed-board D is also lowered down to an inclined position even with'the concave G, as shown in the same figure, its side edges resting on cleats g g.- The teeth f f of the concave G are suitably arranged to allow the proper passage between them of the teeth I) b of the cylinder, moving in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. The discharging-board R, Figs. 3 and at, is the same for both arrangements of the concave.

The driving-gear for the overshot arrangement may be a simple pulley P on the shaft a of the cylinder 0, as shown in Fig. 1, to receive a belt from the horse-power or other driver.

For driving the undershot a pinion N is placed on the shaft a, and a cog-wheel M on a short side shaft- 0 gears into it. A pulley L is placed on the shaft 0 to receive the belt from the power. This reverses the motion of the cylinder 0 as required, and allows a change of velocity, if desired, by having the wheel M larger or smaller than the pinion N. This additional gearing may remain in place for the overshot arrangement, as in Fig. 1, or may be removed, if preferred.

\Vith the above sim le arran ementwithout any change of the power, either the overshot or undershot thrasher may be produced in a few minutes whenever desired.

\Ve do not claim either the undershot or the overshot thrashing-machine of itself as produced by our improvement; but

1Vhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Converting the machine either into an overshot or an undershot thrasher by means of the removable and convertible concave E and false concave H, concave Gr, and false concave I when respectively employed in connection with the cylinder 0 and feeding-board D, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein specified.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 25th day of March, A. D. 1861.

0. II. SHANK. STAUFFER STEPHENSON.

Witnesses:

DAVID GISH, J ESSE B. HUMMEL. 

